Chapter 8

Very Much 8 : A Visit Home

Lina Sidorova

W

ith Colette in his arms, Lionelrode his horse into the centre of her town. They were very conspicuous. Herewas a knight in ceremonial dress on a large war horse. Not only that, theknight was the leader of the Black Dragon Knights that had recently returnedhome victoriously. He had Colette in his arms, holding her like she wasprecious to him,

‘Are you alright, Colette?’

‘I’m not okay, everyone is staringat me…’

‘Don’t take any notice.’ He said.Although she thought there was a big problem, she didn’t want to start aquarrel with Lionel in the middle of the street with everyone watching. Shecovered her face with her hand and held on to Lionel,

‘Isn’t that the Folk’s young lady?’

‘Didn’t she go to the castle forapprenticeship? She seems to have caught a good man.’

‘But he seems higher than herlevel, don’t you think?’

They watched with expressions ofcuriosity and envy. It seems Lionel has always been exposed to gazes and wordslike these. Colette had only ever been watching from the sidelines. Now thatthey were at the same position, she could understand him a little more,

‘…Lionel is really strong,’

‘What did you say?’

‘You’re mentally strong. I don’tknow if I can get used to…’

Even though, she would get used toit, it seemed to be a painful thing. Maybe it would really be impossible to bewith him. She should try to dissuade him when they got to her parents’ home. Asshe was thinking this, he touched her face and said softly, ‘Don’t worry, Iwill be your shield,’

His gentle words melted her heart.That small comment made her love him even more. He pulled Colette even tighterto him. In the end, she was no longer angry when they reached her parents’trading company.

It looked like someone had sentword that they were coming, for Colette’s parents were waiting at the entrancefor them looking tense, but more well dressed than usual. They probably changedtheir clothes for their esteemed guest, Colette thought as Lionel dismountedand lifted her down gently. Everyone was welcoming, and they had theirprofessional faces on.

Surely everyone was thinking: aserious thing has happened.

His war horse was taken by anemployee to the stables behind the shop. So Colette and Lionel turned to herparents. They were led to the reception room, where the four of them faced eachother. Lionel gave in first,

‘Pardon my sudden unannouncedvisit. I am Lionel de Guiryal, the Earl of Foleilly,’

‘Of course, we know who you are.How come the Earl wishes to see us?’ her father replied timidly. It seemed that they didnot yet understand whey Lionel was here (Zuben: They ain’t psychic). How werethey going to explain it to them? Colette’s heart pounded nervously.

Lionel replied, ‘Lionel would befine. It will all be explained in time. We just need to wait for the rest ofthe party.’

‘What? What are you talking about?’Her father said confused by the situation at hand. Colette also did not knowwho was coming, but she was amazed at Lionel’s boldness; using another man’shouse like it was his own.

There was a knock on the door, herfather called, ‘Enter, please,’ and an employee led two men into the receptionroom,

‘Matthew…’ Colette called as sherealised who had arrived. It was Matthew her fiancé and his father. In the twoyears that she had been away, he had grown even taller. He was one year olderthan her, and he was a gentle person with a quirky personality and who did notget angry or raise his voice easily. He had a good head on his shoulders and hehelped his father manage several stores in their textile trading business. Colettehad not fought with him since they were children, and they had always been ongood terms.

It made her chest feel heavy whenshe thought about telling Matthew she wanted to cancel the engagement. Matthewand his father were surprised to see Lionel and Colette. Lionel spoke first,

‘I have received permission tomarry Colette from my liege,’

Colette’s mother covered her mouthin shock; her eyes looked wide enough to fall out of their sockets. Her fatherseemed to have lost his soul,

Matthew’s father seemed to be theonly one who still had his wits about him, ‘But Colette has been promised toMatthew since they were young!’

‘I am sorry, but I am here todiscuss terms of settlement to cancel the engagement.’

Colette’s mother recovered firstand elbowed her father,

‘This marriage is a merger betweenboth our houses, despite the promise of a settlement; we can’t just cancel theengagement just like that.’ Her mother said,

‘Before discussing cancellingColette’s engagement, there is something I want to confirm,’ Lionel turned toMatthew with a cold gaze, ‘about Guilietta Flouqette and the child she ispregnant with.’

Matthew and his father’s complexionpaled. Colette and her family were confused, they hadn’t heard about this.

Matthew tried to defend himself,‘The child is mine, but I am not planning to make the child legitimate. I willbe paying child support.’

Colette’s parents stared in shock;the child is his?! He has been being unfaithful and making children whileColette was away?

But Lionel was not finished, ‘Thereseems to be two or three other women you meet regularly other than Guilietta,’

‘They all know I have a fiancée,and I am going to marry Colette, so this doesn’t affect my engagement withColette,’ Matthew replied calmly, trying to sound reasonable, but lookingshaky.

There is no problem? No there isone! While Colette’s parents were at a loss of what to say about the currentdevelopment, there was a knock on the door and a young woman entered. It wasSophie, Colette’s younger sister

‘Don’t just enter there, Sophie.’

Colette’s older brother followed.Sophie’s cheeks were dyed pink much like Colette’s but she turned to Matthew,

‘Mattie, if you cancel yourengagement with older sister you can marry me. We can just change the name onthe contract,’ (Zuben: The sister too?! Matthew, you harem master you)

Colette’s father flew into a rageand tried to punch Matthew, Matthew dodged and the punch landed on his father.

(Zuben: Is Colette going to sayanything?)

Colette’s father shouted, ‘Thisarsehole! I will not forgive you! Sophie as well?!’

Matthew’s father shouted back,‘What?! Your daughter also broke the promise!’

‘Your son was obviously cheatingfor a long time, you bastard! You raised a hapless son!’

‘Your daughter is also faithless!’

A fight broke out between the twofathers and their sons tried to stop them. Colette’s mother and sister werecrying, while Lionel held Colette who just stared in shock, thinking; it hasbecome a terrible thing… (Zuben: Conveniently terrible.)

Zuben: Whereever you may be hopefully you're free-ly living happily (terrible rhyme, but hey)♙Chapter 9